NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC. Overview of NREL Collaborative Energy-Water Activities Jordan Macknick Western Electric Power/Water Sector Collaboration Workshop November 8-9, 2010

NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY Introduction to NREL National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Department of Energy (DOE) research facility Only DOE national laboratory focused exclusively on renewable energy Located in Golden, CO

NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY Commercialization and Deployment Individual facility focused Applied and functional Strategic Energy Analysis Center (SEAC) Systems level analysis Data collection and modeling on a regional scale NREL Structure provides for two points of contact with water/wastewater utilities

NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY Government agencies Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Local water and wastewater utilities Ongoing collaborative efforts

NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY Energy Management Initiative for Public Wastewater and Drinking Water Utilities Purpose: –Reduce municipalities energy costs at water and wastewater treatment plants by at least 20% –Minimize the impact of water / wastewater treatment utilities on the environment –Share experience, benefits and lessons with other utilities in the West –Partnership with communities to substantially reduce energy use and costs and develop individual Energy Management Plans for their water treatment utilities through a pilot program in 2010/2011 Partners: –EPA Region 8 divisions –Colorado state government agencies –Electric utilities –Universities –NREL Government agency collaboration: EPA Region 8

NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY Pilot Program Components Energy Use Benchmarking Energy Assessments / Process Audits Energy Management Workshops Facility Improvements Renewable Energy Exploration Funding Assistance Case Studies Government agency collaboration: EPA Region 8

NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY Current Status Identification and selection of utilities Defining data collection needs and methods Identifying funding mechanisms for pilot utilities Government agency collaboration: EPA Region 8

NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY Purpose: Exploring water resource management as a tool to reduce energy consumption and CO 2 emissions Supply-side (infrastructure) and demand-side (appliances and education) water projects Energy management improvements NVOC Case Studies Chicago, IL Arvada, CO James City County, VA NREL Activities identification of additional utilities assistance with funding opportunities assistance with data analysis NGO collaboration: Natures Voice Our Choice (NVOC)

NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY Purpose: To provide NREL with hands-on access to facilities technology, data, and personnel, while providing the City of Boulder with energy efficiency and renewable energy expertise Activities Data sharing Assistance in interpretation of data Tours of facilities Ongoing dialogue Local Colorado Water and Wastewater Utilities Collaboration: City of Boulder

NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY Aversions: High capital cost investments Deficiencies: Energy monitoring devices Detailed knowledge of energy usage for each process Technical/Analysis expertise Personnel time to analyze information Differences: SCADA systems Needs for large and small utilities Common themes throughout collaborations

NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY Installation and analysis of monitoring devices SCADA system improvements Supply-side (infrastructure) vs. demand-side (water savings) projects for water Energy use reductions vs. increased energy production Possible areas suitable for cooperation

NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY Jordan Macknick National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 1617 Cole Blvd RSF300 Golden, CO Contact information